"Village Chief." Upon arriving at the camp, Ye Shikai was imdiately surrounded by everyone.
"We can wash away our sha today, return to the battlefield and realize our ambitions, all thanks to the village chief. Please accept Man Cang’s bow."
"Alright, alright, get up, everyone. Why are you doing this?" Ye Shikai quickly gestured for everyone to rise. He helped Man Cang, first, because he respected him as a true man with courage and martial arts skills; it would have been a waste for him to beco a corvee laborer. Secondly, finding officers like Man Cang with battle experience and strong martial skills could significantly improve the troop’s combat effectiveness. He was the spiritual support of the soldiers; as long as he stood, the soldiers behind him would bravely advance and fight to the death. If he fell, the entire army would collapse. The number of soldiers does not matter as much; on the contrary, the larger the number, the more uncontrollable they would be once they began to rout, much like people on the street all moving in one direction, all following the crowd.
"From now on, our lives belong to the village chief; if you tell us to go east, we will never go west."
"Your lives are your own, and in fact, I don’t hope for war to break out. A land without armies, where people live and work in peace and contentnt, that is my dream. When the war is over, receive your rewards and return to the village for a peaceful life." Ye Shikai could understand their mindset; back in the day at Dragon Teeth, all the team mbers wanted to achieve rits, eager for war and restless. Ye Shikai was like that too in his youthful arrogance.
"Report, Lord Han has issued an order, summoning you and Shangguan Baijiang to the tent imdiately; there seems to be sothing important to discuss." At this mont, a ssenger hurriedly reported.
"Is it just us two, or all the officers?" Ye Shikai asked back.
"Just you and Shangguan Baijiang, sir. As for the content, I do not know."
"Alright, you may go."
"Yes, sir."
"Village chief, this ti you commanded well, Lord Han is surely going to reward you." Man Cang said excitedly.
"Indeed, sir, you are a favorite of Lord Han’s; he will surely bestow an important task upon you."
"Alright, you all stay here, I’ll head to the tent first.
"Yes, sir."
"Yes, sir."
When Ye Shikai arrived at the camp, Shangguan Jian was already there. Inside the tent, there were only him and Han Hao; even the guards had been dismissed. Clearly, there was sothing "confidential" to discuss.
"Ye, my dear brother, you finally arrived." Han Hao personally ca up to greet him. "I’ve prepared fine wine and venison. Please, you two, eat first."
"Lord Han, you called us, is there sothing you wish to discuss?" Shangguan Jian, the "workaholic," wasn’t keen on wine and at; he was only interested in military affairs.
"First of all, congratulations to both of you. The matter of the battle has already been reported to the governor’s mansion. You’ve achieved such significant military rits; upon your return, you’ll each have your land and residence."
"Thank you, Lord Han."
"Lord Han summoned the two of us, there must be more to it than just that." Ye Shikai was not overly pleased; in his heart, he firmly believed that he would eventually return, and these things were just "empty dreams."
"Indeed, there is military intelligence." Han Hao’s expression slightly changed; it was indeed not that simple. He stood slowly and laid down an enormous map.
"Please take a look here." Han Hao indicated with a wooden stick a broad road on the map.
"Sir, isn’t this our marching route?" Shangguan Jian inquired curiously.
"Indeed, now look here." Han Hao moved the stick, pointing at a narrow road alongside it.
"This road leads to Yan; I have received intelligence that the Wolf Clan is launching an attack earlier than expected, by more than half a month."
The Wolf Clan attacking half a month early was not good news. If the frontline was caught unprepared and the Wolf Clan broke through the Great Wall, their iron cavalry would sweep in, and no amount of troops would be able to stop them.
No wonder, even after today’s victory, Han Hao couldn’t find any joy—as it turned out, the frontline was in danger.
"Then, sir, do you have a plan?" Ye Shikai asked straightforwardly.
"Yes, I intend to divide our forces into two. You two will lead two thousand n each, set off from the side road, march day and night, carrying half a month’s rations, and proceed directly to the frontline. I shall lead three thousand n, continuing with the corvée to escort the grain supplies."
The corvée escorting the grain were marching on foot, dragging such heavy supplies, covering no more than fifty miles a day. But if only the troop sets off, they could cover over one hundred miles a day; half a month should be enough to reach Yanjing.
"Sir, if we take away two thousand n, what if we encounter a sneak attack from the Wolf Clan?"
"Why, Shangguan, do you not trust ? With this precious bow at my waist and this great knife in my hand, these wolves cannot do anything to ." Han Hao waved, handing a commander’s seal to Shangguan Jian.
"Shangguan, you are the main commander, Ye, you are the vice commander. You will lead these two thousand n, and all matters big and small are for you two to decide. But the only requirent is that you reach the frontline as soon as possible.
"Yes, sir," Shangguan Jian responded to the order.
"Since it is Lord Han’s military order, I have no objections."
......
"So, village chief, what officer rank did Lord Han reward you with?"
Ye Shikai glanced at the excited crowd; they were still imrsed in today’s small victory, unaware of what a real war entailed.
"Everyone, break camp and set off." Ye Shikai said with a bittersweet smile, making a decision that surprised everyone.
"What..."
"Village chief, what exactly happened?" Man Cang asked, confused.
"Shangguan and I have received military orders to command two thousand n, along with all the cavalry, to imdiately depart for the frontline in Yan." Ye Shikai explained briefly. In procedure, if the frontline felt pressured, the Great General would send a request for reinforcents to Xianyang, and the court would discuss and send reinforcents from various prefectures. However, if the situation were urgent, the ssage would be written directly to each governor’s mansion but would need explanation to the court at Xianyang.
It seems that this was indeed the latter situation...
"I see. Alright, I will imdiately make the arrangents." Man Cang saluted, then turned and left the camp tent.
"Bring sufficient rations and water, and ensure the cavalry have enough feed."
Two hours later.
Two thousand soldiers were neatly lined outside the camp, discarding everything except essential weapons and half-a-month’s supplies.
"Old Ye, the military situation is urgent; we must set off imdiately, so no rest tonight."
"Alright then, let’s set off right away. We’ll march through the night, and when dawn breaks, we’ll find a village for a short rest and replenish our energy with so rations."
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